{"id":87147,"date":"2023-03-27T12:42:35","date_gmt":"2023-03-27T12:42:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.icelandaurora.com\/archive-phototours\/?p=87147"},"modified":"2023-11-21T19:22:19","modified_gmt":"2023-11-21T19:22:19","slug":"kerlingarfjoll-mountains-a-travel-guide-to-a-central-highlands-hiking-hotspot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.icelandaurora.com\/archive-phototours\/kerlingarfjoll-mountains-a-travel-guide-to-a-central-highlands-hiking-hotspot\/","title":{"rendered":"Kerlingarfj\u00f6ll\u00a0Mountains: a travel guide to a central highlands hiking hotspot."},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Kerlingarfj\u00f6ll\u00a0mountains pop up in the middle of a vast stony plane between two glaciers in the central highlands of Iceland. I put Kerlingarfj\u00f6ll\u00a0in the ‘Volcanic’ section because it has a multitude of steam vents and hot springs. The mountain peaks hold ice and snow well into the summer, making Kerlingarfj\u00f6ll\u00a0the ice-and-fire mountains. The mountains are believed to have been formed by a twin caldera volcanic eruption. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kerlingarfj\u00f6ll\u00a0 was formed under a glacier (sub-glacially) during an “ice age” period, although it has erupted since the last ice age as well. The mountain range covers 200 km2<\/sup> and rises to 1500 meters. The mixture of melt water and hot springs gifts the mountains with grassy areas for camping and horses, at least during the summer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to get to Kerlingarfj\u00f6ll <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I thought it was important to include this section early on in this travel guide. To be honest, it is not easy. The longest part of your journey is on the notorious Kjalvegur (F35). If a road number begins with an “F”, it is classified as a mountain road that can only be accessed by 4X4 vehicles. The F35 road is closed during the winter and opens at the end of the thawing season, which is usually late June. The road can remain open well into September, or until the first snow fall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kerlingarfj\u00f6ll\u00a0can be accessed from either North or South Iceland. From the south, the F35 begins about half an hour north of Gullfoss waterfall. In north Iceland, the F35 is shortly after leaving the ring road between Varmahl\u00ed\u00f0 & Bl\u00f6ndu\u00f3s. The connecting road is 721 which winds over a river and through the valley for a couple of kilometers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Kerlingarfjoll
Kerlingarfj\u00f6ll\u00a0route from Gullfoss waterfall (approx. 1 hour 45 minutes)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\"Kerlingarfjoll
Route from Bl\u00f6ndu\u00f3s (approx. 3 hours)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The road that comes off Kalveur into the Kerlingarfj\u00f6ll\u00a0mountains is road F347. Kjalvegur is corrugated in places and can become very rough with potholes after a few weeks of being open. If you drive the route after it has been graded, there are no concerns. Otherwise, you have to be very careful to avoid the potholes, which could damage your vehicle and leave you stranded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tours to Kerlingarfj\u00f6ll <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Tours to Kerlingarfj\u00f6ll\u00a0are rare and highly seasonal. They are expensive because they require 4x4s, and the roads take their toll on the vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n

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